Analysis: Timing a question for Pence 2nd-year agenda
Republican Gov. Mike Pence and his team are likely to run into time and space constraints if they push a broad agenda during a short session of the General Assembly.
Legislature
Articles
Dermody might be General Assembly wild card
New chairman of the House Committee on Public Policy could raise eyebrows in dealing with ‘vice’ issues.
Some worry about eliminating Indiana business tax
A proposal to phase out Indiana's property tax on business equipment and machinery has many local government leaders concerned about another big revenue hit.
Indiana lawmakers unlikely to consider casino aid
A key state legislator doesn't expect the General Assembly will be taking any action on changing Indiana's casino laws during its upcoming session.
State GOP leaders to drop Common Core standards
House Speaker Brian Bosma of Indianapolis and Senate President David Long of Fort Wayne plan to direct the Republican-controlled Legislature to require the state to create its own set of reading and math standards.
Pence plans more charters, road money for 2014
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence plans to spend his second meeting with the General Assembly advancing a legislative agenda centered on expanding the number of charter schools, finding ways to pay for road projects and seeking new tax cuts.
New law paves way for micro-distilleries to open across state
A new state law allows Indiana distillers to obtain a permit to produce and sell spirits by the glass, bottle or case. Previously, they could sell only to distributors, never to the public.
Bosma names Dermody new public policy chairman
Dermody, a Republican from LaPorte, will replace Jim Davis, who left the Indiana Legislature to become the director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
Marriage, education fights may crowd 2014 session
House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long detailed their 2014 legislative priorities Monday along with House Minority Leader Scott Pelath and Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane.
Council urges rejection of marriage amendment
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 22-6 on Monday night to pass a resolution urging the Indiana General Assembly to vote against the proposed same-sex marriage amendment.
Ritz proposes veterans-to-teacher scholarship program
Veterans could receive scholarships and college credits for their military experience if they pursue K-12 teaching in Indiana under a bipartisan proposal.
Environmentalists targeting ag laws
The Hoosier Environmental Council has targeted food safety, animal rights and the environmental impact the corporate livestock industry has in Indiana.
Indiana’s long fight for less government has politicians protecting own
Economists and politicians on both sides of the aisle have argued for years that streamlining government in Indiana could save millions of dollars, but vested interests and fear of change have stymied real reform.
Indy Chamber to oppose state gay-marriage amendment
The Chamber noted that two of Indiana’s largest employers—Eli Lilly and Co. and Cummins Inc.— oppose the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage for recruitment reasons.
Momentum builds for state water plan; some fear conflicts over shortages
Indiana is generally water-rich, but advocates of resource planning say the state runs the risk of supply crises that would hamper economic development.
State will lose $63M in tobacco payments in 2014
An arbitration panel found that the state hadn’t worked hard enough to collect funds from cigarette companies. The money is used to fund health programs in Indiana.
State’s longest-serving female representative dies
Phyllis Pond of New Haven was a retired kindergarten teacher first elected to her Fort Wayne-area district in 1978. The 82-year-old's legislative work included pushing measures that reduced class sizes throughout the state and helped minority students attend law school.
Pilots heap praise on state lawmakers
Indiana aviators are still celebrating two tax breaks created in the 2013 legislative session, one eliminating a sales tax on parts and repairs and a restructuring of the fuel tax that translates to hundreds in savings per fill-up.
Legislators collide over regional mass-transit plan
During a committee meeting Tuesday, Sen. Brent Waltz and Rep. Ed DeLaney crossed swords on a proposal that included widening roads and reforming the IndyGo bus service.
State leaders vow transparency post-Bennett
Indiana's education leaders are learning from the mistakes of former School Superintendent Tony Bennett, starting with their promise to spend more time crafting Indiana's new school grading formula and doing so in the open.